Abstract
Bioproducts, i.e., microbial based pesticides or fertilizers (biopesticides and biofertilizers), should be expected to play an ever-increasing role and application in agricultural practices world-wide in the effort to implement policies concerned with sustainable agriculture. However, several microbial strains have proven the capacity to augment plant productivity by enhancing crop nutrition and functioning as biopesticides, or vice-versa. This multifunctionality is an issue that is still not included as a concept and possibility in any legal provision regarding the placing on the market of bioproducts, and indicates difficulties in clearly classifying the purpose of their suitability. In this review, we overview the current understanding of the mechanisms in plant-microbe interactions underlining the dual function of microbial strains toward plant nutrition and protection. The prospects of market development for multifunctional bioproducts are then considered in view of the current regulatory approach in the European Union, in an effort that wants to stimulate a wider adoption of the new knowledge on the role played by microorganisms in crop production.
Highlights
Chemical, synthetic plant protection products (PPPs) and mineral fertilizers are criticized mainly for their potentially negative effects on human health (Bennekou, 2019) and/or the environment (Norse, 2005; Huang et al, 2017) including non-renewable resources depletion (Chojnacka et al, 2020), and overall negative impact on biodiversity (Mozumder and Berrens, 2007; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys, 2019)
In this review we are summarizing recent findings on the multiple effects of microorganisms suitable as biofertilizers or biopesticides, in light of the intricated interactions between plants and microorganisms, in an effort to foster the discussion on new products that could find a better acceptance by farmers because of their multifunctional properties
The relation between plants and beneficial microorganisms inocula occurs within a wider framework of interactions, including those with the plant microbiome (Berg et al, 2017; Fadiji and Babalola, 2020) as well as with the soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics (Bardi and Malusá, 2012; Vimal et al, 2017), which all contribute to increase the complexity in developing sustainable management practices and agricultural products such as biofertilizers and biopesticides as well as for better exploiting their characteristics
Summary
Synthetic plant protection products (PPPs) and mineral fertilizers are criticized mainly for their potentially negative effects on human health (Bennekou, 2019) and/or the environment (Norse, 2005; Huang et al, 2017) including non-renewable resources depletion (Chojnacka et al, 2020), and overall negative impact on biodiversity (Mozumder and Berrens, 2007; Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys, 2019). Because of these concerns, the application of sustainable crop production methods is required by consumers as well as by legal provisions (Marrone, 2019). Microbial-based pesticides or fertilizers (hereafter biopesticides and biofertilizers, respectively) would not be expected to fully replace chemical pesticides and mineral fertilizers, they could play an ever-increasing role and application in agricultural practices worldwide (Alabouvette et al, 2012; Kurek and Ozimek, 2013)
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